Mediterranean countries joint efforts against common challenges

Countries in the Mediterranean region face similar challenges, which require shared solutions, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini said last Friday in La Valletta. She took part in the 15th Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 5+5 Western Mediterranean Dialogue in Malta's capital.

Opening the meeting Malta's Foreign Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said the Mediterranean remains at the essence of EU external relations dossier, with the overall objective of bringing peace, stability, and sustainable growth in the region.

Iran's atomic agency chief hit out Sunday at European powers, saying their broken promises gave the Islamic republic little choice but to scale back its commitments under a nuclear deal. Ali Akbar Salehi was speaking to reporters alongside Cornel Feruta, the acting head of the International Atomic Energy Agency who was on a one-day visit to Tehran.

The European Union will not recognise the results of Sunday's Russian local and regional elections in Crimea because the region belongs to Ukraine and not Russia, a spokeswoman for the EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said on Monday.